Let’s De-Stress, Bearcats!

Hey, Bearcats! As we approach the end of the semester, let’s talk about ways to take your mind off finals. As a graphic design student, I know that letting myself be creative is so important. When trying to eliminate stress during crunch time at the end of the semester, bringing out your artist side is a great way to cope with stress. Let’s dive into some activities that can help you de-stress during this difficult academic time!

Up first we have: COLORING!

What seems like a childish elementary school activity can actually be really beneficial. Coloring allows you to slow down and focus on a simple activity, putting all your academic stressors out of your mind. The only materials you need are prints of coloring sheets and your choice of coloring tools! Personally, I like using crayons because it makes me focus more on the coloring rather than making the picture look perfect. During finals of my freshman year when I was writing quite a few papers during finals week, I found this activity to be a great escape from my homework. It really allowed me to take a step back and pause from the intense academic work that could be really draining if not broken up. 

Next up, we have KNITTING!

Personally, I have no idea how to knit or crochet, but it happens to be my roommate’s favorite downtime activity when she’s looking for a productive hobby to do aside from classwork. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed and need to de-stress, this activity provides a more hands-on approach to crafting. It also gives you a little bit more customization when it comes to patterns, colors, and designs. It is especially beneficial as it can kill two birds with one stone: unwind your mind during finals and make a family member or friend a gift for the holiday season! 

Finally, we have BAKING!

One of my favorite ways to take a step back from rigorous academics is to chef up a meal or dessert for myself and friends! This was always my personal go-to activity to unwind, whether I was studying for the SAT’s or preparing for my TED Talk for my Writing 111 presentation. This activity allows you to recenter yourself both mentally and physically: baking, which provides a good distraction to complete a simple task and fueling yourself/friends with the final product, which is probably one of your favorite delicious desserts. The only downside to this activity is having dishes to do afterwards, but if you bribe your friends with a sample of your finished product, I am sure they would be happy to pitch in. 

Overall, it’s really important to take care of your mental and physical well being. Yes, it’s important to do well as the semester comes to an end, but your well-being is far more important. In the past, the Fleishman Career Center has done various activities like the ones I recommended: stay up to date for more upcoming events to de-stress!

By Hannah Paseltiner
Hannah Paseltiner Student Career Influencer Intern